Packers: Five players key to victory in Week 15 vs. Panthers

2. Allen Lazard

Since his return from injury, Allen Lazard hasn’t had a game like his breakout performance against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.

To be fair, Davante Adams was out and Lazard was the number one receiver in that game. But that doesn’t mean he can’t still make a bigger impact than he has so far.

The coaches seem to be bringing him back slowly, increasing his snap count each game. He should be fully healthy now and ready to show us his performance against the Saints was no fluke. While I don’t expect six catches for 146 yards like in Week 3, I do expect more than the two receptions for 19 yards he had against Detroit.

Prior to his injury, Lazard was on the path to being a solid number two option behind Adams. It actually started towards the end of last season and continued at the start of 2020.

So far, his most productive game since his return was, depending how you look at it, against the Chicago Bears, four receptions, 23 yards, and a touchdown or against the Eagles, three receptions for 50 yards.

Either way, those aren’t the numbers of a true number two receiver.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been too up and down to be considered a solid second option, so look for Lazard to get going in this game and reclaim his stake as the number two receiver behind Adams.